Reconstruction of normal and pathological human epidermis on polycarbonate filter.

This chapter provides methods suitable for the culture of primary human keratinocytes in serum-free culture conditions, starting from very small skin biopsies. It also explains procedures required for reconstruction of a stratified epidermis on polycarbonate filter, starting from keratinocytes cultured in serum-free conditions. Tissues reconstructed according to this method have been proven suitable for characterization of epidermal morphogenesis and for in vitro studies of the epidermal barrier. Utilization of the same method for successful isolation of keratinocytes from a patient suffering from Darier's disease and the reconstruction of a pathological epidermis which displays the same histological features as in vivo are also presented.